Champion trainer Chris Waller has a big team set for the Group III Kingston Town stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday and is confident that two gallopers in particular have their hooves on the till.
Who Shot Thebarman, Libran and Kinema are all expected to improve off the run but it is Antonio Giuseppe and Life Less Ordinary that Waller holds high hopes for in the $150,000 event.
After closing strongly last start in the Group II Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) behind superstar stablemate Winx, Waller is bursting with confidence about 2016 Metropolitan runner-up Antonio Giuseppe, but admits that he has some obstacles to overcome.
"It's a shame he's drawn so wide because he is ready to win, this horse," Waller said.
"He's got good form coming out of a Group II-mile race last start at weight-for-age. He's well suited by the set weights and penalties.
"He's come up really well and is up to a more suitable distance.
"He'll just need some luck from the gate."
Tye Angland will have the job of steering from barrier 12; however, the other main chance for the stable Life Less Ordinary has drawn favourably in barrier five and finished just 1-3/4 lengths behind his stablemate in the Chelmsford.
"Along with Antonio Guiseppe, he's our best chance in the race," Waller said.
"He's drawn really well, his two runs back have been fantastic and his last start was in weight-for-age company.
"The 2000m will suit. Saturday is a big race for him, it'll be telling us whether he is on track for some Group I targets later in the spring."
Both Life Less Ordinary and Antonio Giuseppe hold nominations for the The Metropolitan (2400m), the Caulfield Cup (2400m) and the Melbourne Cup (3200m) while Life Less Ordinary also holds a nomination for the Epsom Handicap (1600m).
Antonio Giuseppe is $3.40 favourite with CrownBet for Saturday's Kingston Town stakes, narrowly ahead of Life Less Ordinary and Stephen Marsh's Chocante at $4.
